Living long term in Egypt

Why would anyone move to a county without taking a holiday there to get a feel for the place? Always check out the place in person. It can save you making a costly mistake.

You should sort out a holiday that is built more around getting a feel for the place then being a tourist. Find out if you like the place in person via a holiday first.
 
I've never been to egypt myself but I have heard similar stories to most. I have however been to Istanbul and Morocco, which I'd imagine have very much the same kind of atmosphere (if you're a tourist, you have money and therefore are a target).

However, I wouldn't tell you not to go - you could go over there and have a great time; I certainly did in Morocco and Istanbul (granted I don't want to live in either place). I reckon its all a matter of how you compose yourself while you're over there. You'd be best to hit the ground running by buying similar clothes to locals, having a decent grasp of the language before you go and generally assert your confidence. If someone laughs and jokes with you, laugh and joke with them back, but make sure when you say No you mean No. If you carry a wallet with no money in it and tell them in arabic you're living there now, I'd bet most people would back down immediately. Don't go around with shorts, a brilliant white t-shirt, a bumbag and a camera around your neck. Just look poor, act confident and always look like you know where you're going. Again, I can't stress how much a grasp of Arabic would set you apart from targeted tourists.

Have you been to any similar Arabic countries?

Edit: Oh and find a friend fast. But you'd better be damn sure they're not a "friend" that ends up asking for money at the end of the week for his assistance.
 
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I think the OP is a bit bonkers to consider this without at least a holiday! I spent quite a few weeks there:

I don't think that its a great place to live - what do you think are the advantages to living there? I remember plenty of dirt and filth, an apauling social hierachy, low moral standards (IMO), and plenty of AK's in your face from the army as soon as you wonder a bit far in the wrong direction.

Figure out what you want from your life - and then choose where to live to suit. TBH unles your really destitute I would think it would be hard to increase your quality of life by moving to Egypt. Its like someone from Egypt moving to an African refugee camp for a change of scenery
 
Immodium won't touch any upset stomach over there. Something to do with the type of bacteria that most people get ill from, Immodium not being able to deal with it

They sell one brand across every pharmacy and it works, almost instantly!
 
I've got extended leave off work so I've got time to mess about with this. Initially I will be there for a month, will do some charity work and things like that. But I want a total career change so I've been planning this for months, one thing I've wanted to do is learn Arabic hence Egypt as Egyptian Arabic is the most widely sued dialect of Arabic.

But you never know after a while if I don't like it I can always try somewhere else. The point of this thread was to see if another OCer had done something like this.

I will apply for a working visa once I'm there. It normally takes two weeks not months and will take certificate to prove I don't have the ass AIDS when I go.
 
Bill101 said:
fixed for the OP, after all Jebus is not going to be of any help in the Middle East
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FYI Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet so he is of some help in the Middle East and in Egypt there are a lot of Christians (like proper ones that follow the religion properly, not these part timers that go to Church once in a blue moon ....)

yer_averagejoe said:
I've never been to egypt myself but I have heard similar stories to most. I have however been to Istanbul and Morocco, which I'd imagine have very much the same kind of atmosphere (if you're a tourist, you have money and therefore are a target).

However, I wouldn't tell you not to go - you could go over there and have a great time; I certainly did in Morocco and Istanbul (granted I don't want to live in either place). I reckon its all a matter of how you compose yourself while you're over there. You'd be best to hit the ground running by buying similar clothes to locals, having a decent grasp of the language before you go and generally assert your confidence. If someone laughs and jokes with you, laugh and joke with them back, but make sure when you say No you mean No. If you carry a wallet with no money in it and tell them in arabic you're living there now, I'd bet most people would back down immediately. Don't go around with shorts, a brilliant white t-shirt, a bumbag and a camera around your neck. Just look poor, act confident and always look like you know where you're going. Again, I can't stress how much a grasp of Arabic would set you apart from targeted tourists.

Have you been to any similar Arabic countries?

Edit: Oh and find a friend fast. But you'd better be damn sure they're not a "friend" that ends up asking for money at the end of the week for his assistance.
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This is some great advice, thanks mate :) I actually look middle eastern so I should be able to blend in Solid Snake style

I have to say I'm shocked at all the negative comments about the place, just because some of you had a bad time in one area of the country you label the whole place crap! That's totally narrow minded, it's like someone going to Middlesbrough and saying all of the UK is crap because of that bum whole, anyway time will tell I suppose and will update you all on my findings.
 
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elrasho said:
FYI Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet so he is of some help in the Middle East and in Egypt there are a lot of Christians (like proper ones that follow the religion properly, not these part timers that go to Church once in a blue moon ....)
Click to expand...
I know that and I also know that Christians are treated as second class citizens and are often targeted for abuse.Remember that it is not a Secular country.
 
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